Best Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs of 2025
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Social workers play an important role in connecting a vast array of communities and systems with local resources. Their duties may include counseling couples working through relationship issues or helping kids deal with bullying at school. They can also help diagnose and treat mental health issues.
Social work master’s programs qualify you for professional licensure and most clinical social work jobs. Possible careers for graduates with this degree include clinical social worker, community services manager, and psychotherapist. You can work with individuals, couples, and families; advocate for social policies; research social welfare; or become a social program administrator.
This page details the best MSW programs, social work careers, and the salary potential for different careers in this field.
10 Best Schools for MSW Programs
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Whatever your schedule or specialization, you can likely find a good fit with U-M's MSW program. In addition to part-time day and evening options, you can join the advanced standing, online, or full-time, in-person program. Focus areas include mental health, child and family welfare, leadership, policy, and community change. There's even a track that integrates Peace Corps service into an MSW.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 60
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Offers an accelerated track for human services workers with three or more years of professional experience
- Provides a unique option to complete 27 months of Peace Corps service with the MSW program
- Has a tuition discount for Michigan residents
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Students admitted to the MSW program have an average GPA of 3.5.
- The 45-credit advanced standing option is longer than others on the list.
- The admissions process often includes an interview.
- In-State$19,058
- Out-of-state$61,810
- In-State$25,894
- Out-of-state$52,124
- Retention Rate98%
- Acceptance Rate18%
- Students Enrolled52,065
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment14%
- AccreditationYes
University of Southern California
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
USC's MSW program offers flexible enrollment options to fit your schedule. In addition to a full-time accelerated track, you can also attend part-time, full-time, online, or in a hybrid format. The hybrid option blends one year of on-campus learning with one year of online learning. MSW students receive $1 million in scholarships annually.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 48
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Offers a variety of flexible program formats, including accelerated, part-time, and online tracks
- Requires 1,200 hours of hands-on practicum experience
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA for admission.
- USC prefers that incoming students have 1-2 years of professional experience, including volunteer experience.
- The tuition rate of $2,201 per credit is higher than others on this list.
- In-State$63,468
- Out-of-state$63,468
- In-State$63,468
- Out-of-state$63,468
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate12%
- Students Enrolled48,945
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment34%
- AccreditationYes
University of California-Berkeley
- Berkeley, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
UC Berkeley's master of social welfare program uses a multidisciplinary approach to train social workers. You'll complete the two-year, full-time program on campus with 10 credits of electives and 24 credits of practicum education. Supervised practice through two field placements prepares you for careers in social welfare. The competitive program admits fewer than one in three applicants.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 60
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Features cohort-based field seminars to deepen your learning experience
- Emphasizes serving diverse individuals and communities and advancing social and economic justice
What to Know Before You Apply:
- The 31% acceptance rate makes this a highly competitive MSW program.
- Nonresidents pay almost double the tuition of California residents.
- The program requires students to have one year of professional or volunteer experience in social welfare or human services for admission.
- In-State$12,522
- Out-of-state$45,096
- In-State$11,700
- Out-of-state$26,802
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate12%
- Students Enrolled46,128
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment21%
- AccreditationYes
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Raleigh, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
The full-time MSW program at NC State emphasizes advanced generalist practice in its classroom and field experience requirements. You'll develop assessment and intervention skills while strengthening your ability to collaborate and practice in multiple settings. The program has an MSW practicum coordinator to help you complete your practicum education requirements. NC State does not offer its MSW program in a part-time or online format.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 60
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Offers significantly lower tuition for North Carolina residents
- Features a 39-credit advanced standing option that can be completed in one year
- Provides scholarship and assistantship opportunities to help offset your costs
What to Know Before You Apply:
- For admission, students must possess a variety of life and work experiences.
- The application requires three letters of recommendation, including two professional references.
- GRE scores are optional for admission.
- In-State$6,535
- Out-of-state$29,407
- In-State$9,095
- Out-of-state$28,301
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate40%
- Students Enrolled37,314
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
CUNY Lehman College
- Bronx, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Lehman's MSW program prepares graduates for leadership roles in urban social services organizations and ensures they meet the requirements for clinical licensure in New York. You'll gain supervisory experience through courses and practicum placements, completing at least 600 practicum hours per year. The program's emphasis on leadership and administrative competencies, which go beyond CSWE accreditation requirements, demonstrates its commitment to preparing students to become leaders.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 65
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Features extensive practicum requirements to help you develop real-world experience
- Offers an advanced standing track to students who meet certain qualifications
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Incoming students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework for the traditional program and a minimum 3.2 GPA for the advanced standing track.
- An interview with a faculty member may be required for admission.
- The practicum requires 21 hours per week.
- In-State$6,930
- Out-of-state$14,880
- In-State$11,090
- Out-of-state$20,520
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate55%
- Students Enrolled15,143
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment73%
- AccreditationYes
Northeastern State University
- Tahlequah, OK
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
With its unique focus on Indigenous and rural communities, the MSW program at NSU prepares graduates for serving high-need areas. You'll explore social work practice with Native American populations through coursework and practicums. The program also offers five tracks for flexible learning, including advanced standing, full-time, and part-time options. Advanced standing programs start in the summer, while traditional programs start in the fall.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 58
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Offers practicum placements with social work agencies
- Provides six credits of electives for every track
- Has a 32-credit advanced standing option, with full-time and part-time tracks
What to Know Before You Apply:
- In-state tuition is $291 per credit, while out-of-state students pay $636 per credit.
- The program requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for admission.
- Program admission requires a bachelor's in social science or a related field.
- In-State$6,623
- Out-of-state$15,743
- In-State$4,802
- Out-of-state$10,697
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate99%
- Students Enrolled6,409
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
UNC-Chapel Hill's MSW program prioritizes flexibility, with advanced standing, two-year, three-year, and online program options. In the traditional MSW program, you'll complete up to 1,100 hours of field education to strengthen your practice skills. Social work students complete most of their credits within one of two specializations: direct practice and community, management, and policy practice. The direct practice track prepares graduates for clinical and counseling roles.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 62
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Prepares you for a specific career path with 32 credits of coursework in a specialization area
- Provides a 12-month advanced standing option
- Offers more than 30 scholarships for MSW students
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Newly enrolled students have an average GPA of 3.2-3.4.
- The school requires a 4-5 page statement of purpose for admission.
- Out-of-state students pay more than double the tuition rate of North Carolina residents.
- In-State$7,020
- Out-of-state$37,360
- In-State$10,552
- Out-of-state$28,844
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate19%
- Students Enrolled32,496
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment25%
- AccreditationYes
University of Chicago
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus
What You'll Like:
The MA in social work, social policy, and social administration at UChicago offers a broader, more interdisciplinary approach than traditional MSW programs. You'll customize your course of study with one of five pathways, including mental health, economic inequality, children and families, and others. UChicago social work students complete 225,000 practicum hours annually with over 800 partners in the Chicagoland area.
- Courses Needed to Graduate: 18
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Provides access to an extensive network of partners to complete field requirements
- Allows for specialization through a highly integrated curriculum that offers five pathways
What to Know Before You Apply:
- The school offers no credit for prior learning or professional experience.
- Neither GRE scores nor an interview are required for admission.
- The advanced standing track starts in the summer, and the traditional track starts in the fall.
- In-State$61,179
- Out-of-state$61,179
- In-State$65,145
- Out-of-state$65,145
- Retention Rate99%
- Acceptance Rate5%
- Students Enrolled15,763
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment0%
- AccreditationYes
Georgia State University
- Atlanta, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
The MSW program at Georgia State incorporates multiple field education components to prepare you for diverse social work careers. The program's focus in community partnerships allows you to develop engagement and assessment skills at the community level by promoting social and economic justice and maximizing human potential. The school offers the same curriculum in a part-time, online format.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 60
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Offers the option of a two-year, full-time, on-campus program or a three-year, part-time, online program
- Provides a 39-credit advanced standing track
- Puts students on a pathway to start a career in healthcare, public child welfare services, nonprofit management, and other fields
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Only one specialization — community partnerships — is offered.
- A statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation are required to apply.
- The program allows six credits of electives.
- In-State$8,948
- Out-of-state$27,986
- In-State$7,164
- Out-of-state$22,662
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate52%
- Students Enrolled34,995
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment67%
- AccreditationYes
Columbia University in the City of New York
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
What You'll Like:
Columbia's MS in social work program combines rigorous coursework with flexible learning options, including various concentrations, delivery modes, and dual degree pathways. Within your specialization, you can choose to focus on topics like aging, mental health and disabilities, school-based services, and more. The Columbia School of Social Work opened in 1898 as the first social work school in the U.S., and it continues to provide a grounded education in social work theory and practice.
- Credits Needed to Graduate: 60
- Programmatic Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education
- Leads to Social Work Licensure: Yes
Things We Love:
- Offers four specializations, such as dialectical behavior therapy and integrated practice and programming
- Provides an online program option should you prefer or require the flexibility of distance learning
- Features eight dual-degree options, allowing you to combine another degree program, like education or law, with your MSSW
What to Know Before You Apply:
- GRE scores are not required to apply.
- The MSSW program offers no advanced standing option.
- Two letters of reference and three essays are required for admission.
- In-State$61,989
- Out-of-state$61,989
- In-State$52,016
- Out-of-state$52,016
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate4%
- Students Enrolled29,661
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment14%
- AccreditationYes
MSW Program Overview
Pursuing a master’s degree in social work equips you with a comprehensive understanding of essential skills and knowledge for social work jobs, including counseling approaches, cognitive treatment methods, and clinical assessment techniques. Beyond coursework, you also complete fieldwork, which offers hands-on experience in actual social work settings.
Generally, MSW programs take two years of full-time study. Some social work degrees may take less time to complete. For example, if you already have a bachelor of social work (BSW), you may be able to graduate from an MSW program in just one year.
MSW Cost
The cost of a traditional, on-campus MSW program can vary depending on factors such as institutional prestige, location, and delivery format. In 2020, the average tuition and fees for an MSW was $18,523, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Many social work programs offer financial aid, scholarships, and assistantships to help defray the cost of earning your master’s degree. Online MSW programs may also help you reduce the cost of your degree, as online MSW programs cost about $5,000 less per year, on average, than in-person MSW programs, according to the NCES.
Accreditation for MSW Programs
To qualify for social work licensure, you need to earn your MSW from a programmatically accredited school. Many employers only hire candidates with an accredited degree.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) grants programmatic accreditation to MSW degrees. The organization evaluates programs based on curricula, field experience, and faculty. Programs must undergo review regularly to keep their accreditation.
MSW Concentrations
Many MSW programs offer concentrations that allow you to tailor your degree to your goals and interests. Common concentrations include:
- Child and family social work
- School social work
- Healthcare social work
- Community and social systems
- Social policy
- Social work administration
Three Types of Social Workers
There are three major types of social workers: macro, direct services, and clinical. We explore these categories below.
1. Macro Social Workers
Macro social workers work with communities, large groups of people, major institutions, and cities. Depending on their position, these social workers may advocate for large-scale social policy change, lobby to change healthcare laws, or organize statewide activist groups. They may also engage in research or work as managers and administrators for community programs.
2. Licensed Clinical Social Workers
Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. They can offer therapy to individuals, groups, or families. Their workplaces include hospitals, community centers, rehabilitation facilities, and private practices.
The job title for social workers with a clinical social work license varies by state. States may use titles such as LCSW, licensed independent social worker, or licensed independent clinical social worker.
Clinical social workers without a license can practice clinical social work under the supervision of an LCSW. They must earn licensure to practice independently.
3. Direct Service Social Workers
Direct service social workers connect individuals with relevant resources and services. They may also provide limited counseling services, but they cannot provide psychotherapy. Depending on their role, these professionals can perform intake screenings, refer clients to relevant services, provide mediation services, and work in case management.
How Much Do Social Workers Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median social worker salary was $61,330 in 2024. Social work salaries depend on factors like location, degree, and industry.
For example, professionals with a master of social work usually earn higher wages than professionals with only a bachelor’s degree in the field. Similarly, clinical social workers generally earn higher salaries than nonclinical social workers.
As with other fields, social workers often see an increase in their earning potential after gaining experience, earning an advanced degree, and/or learning specialized skills.
Social Workers Salary Outlook
| Careers in Social Work | Median Annual Salary (2024) |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $78,240 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $68,090 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $63,780 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $60,060 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $58,570 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Work Master’s Programs
An MSW is a master of social work—a graduate-level degree in social work. In most states, licensed social workers need an MSW.
